Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, Chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), sent a letter to the Obama administration today requesting the withdrawal of a rule proposed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that would regulate hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands. The letter was a follow-up to a previous RGA/RAGA letter expressing concern over the rule and its impact on energy production and economic growth.

The rule, announced by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in May 2012, was met with strong opposition by States, Tribal leaders, job creators, and other concerned citizens. Hydraulic fracturing has been effectively regulated by the States for over 60 years and is currently responsible for 30 percent of our domestic oil and natural gas production. With States like North Dakota seeing oil production increase by 500% in the last few years due to hydraulic fracturing, this technology represents one of the greatest opportunities for strengthening our Nation’s energy security and spurring economic growth. According to a recent IHS Global Insight study, shale oil and natural gas activity will contribute over 1.7 million jobs in 2012 and increase by over 45% to almost 2.5 million jobs in 2015.

Over the past year, the Natural Resources Committee has held multiple oversight hearings to discuss the rule and its impact on the economy. At a May field hearing in Denver, CO, witnesses representing Western energy producers, public policy experts and local businesses testified about the harm to job creation, local economies and America's energy production that could result from the regulations. In April, the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs held an oversight hearing to examine the impact of the regulations on Indian Tribal energy development. Indian Tribal lands hold a significant amount of oil and natural gas that could help Tribes create jobs, spur economic development and help improve education, health and infrastructure. Unfortunately, many Tribes are concerned that they were left out of the rulemaking process and that the rule could greatly impede Tribes’ ability to develop their own energy resources.

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